Closure assembly for containers



p 1955 A. BEREZIAT ETAL 3,207,375

CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1963 p ,1 A. BEREZIAT ETAL 3,207,375

CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 6, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F F v f4 /2 .9

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Sept. 21, 1965 A. L. BEREZIAT ETAL. 3,207,375

CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINERS Filed June 6, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Ofi ice 3,Z@7,375 P'atented Sept. 2i, 1965 3,207,375 CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR CONTAINERS Andre Louis Bereziat, Lyon, Napolon Bulluitian, Champagne-au-l\ iont'd0r (Rhone), and Louise Genevieve Chelle, Paris, France, assignors to Shell Oil Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 6, 1963, Ser. No. 286,076 Claims priority, application France, Nov. 20, 1962, 915,918, Patent 1,347,803; Mar. 29, 1963, 929,686, Patent 83,346

13 Claims. (Cl. 22281) This invention relates to a pouring spout which can form part of a capsule adaptable on a container made of glass, metal, or plastic, or which spout can be provided at one extremity of the container when the same is made of a relatively soft plastic material or a metal such as lead, tin and the like.

The invention has for its main object to ensure faultless sealing of the container with the capsule for the sale of the product contained in the container, and to provide simple and rapid means for opening the same and to combine these means with an obturating cap for use when utilizing the product, the whole being designed in such manner as to ensure a low cost price.

The pouring spout according to this invention comprises, in combination, a fixed element made of relatively soft material that is adaptable for engagement onto a container and is obturated by an upper wall of which a portion projecting upwardly and obliquely therefrom is thinned down over part at least of its perpiphery, and a mobile element made of relatively hard material which fits coaxially and elastically over said fixed element and carries an eccentric blade directed towards said wall and having at least one straight edge parallel with the axis of said mobile element whereby said oblique wall portion may be out along its thinned-down peripheral portion by rotation of said mobile element about its axis to provide access with the interior of the container to enable the liquid contained in the container to be dispensed, said moble element serving as an obturating means for the pouring spout after said oblique wall portion has been cut.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, said pouring spout is obtained by moulding a relatively soft plastic material, or a metal of the aforementioned type, and consists of a fixed truncated cylindrical tube which on delivery is sealed by a flat or curved oblique cover which is preferably thinned down adjacent the tube wall whereby to form a flexible diaphragm around the periphery of the cover, said tube being integral with a transverse annular wall and with the oblique cover projecting upwardly therefrom, said wall including a circular guiding means over which fits elastically a cap bearing a knife of which the edge parallel with the geometrical axis of said tube is positioned at the time of delivery to face the lowermost point along the thinned-down periphery of the cover, in such manner that rotation of the cap about its axis causes a peripheral severing of said cover, which cover can then be engaged and pulled off by hand. Obturation is then ensured only by the removable cap.

The knife and the cap supporting the same are pref erably a one-piece member of rigid material.

It is a further object of this invention, to provide a pouring spout of the type hereinbefore described, with means to ensure inviolability prior to use, together with permanent fitting of the pouring spout on can-like containers and positive retention of the cap on the pouring spout.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a pouring spout of the type described her'einabove, wherein, in order to ensure cleanliness of the container any loose drops of liquid are directed back into the container. In this respect the fixed cylindrical tube terminates in a funnel and is obturated by a cylindrical end-piece lodged therein and joined obliquely through a thinned-down peripheral portion to the external wall of said tube, the opening of which, subsequent to cutting, has a port in a bowl constituting a receptacle and from which any loose drops are directly conveyed back into the container.

In order to permit pouring of the contents from the container drop by drop or in continuous fashion, as desired, while at the same time isolating said contents from the surrounding atmosphere when the container is not in use, this invention lastly has for an object to provide a pouring spout of the type hereinbefore described wherein the cylindrical tube is mobile, rigidly connected to the knife and pivotally mounted therewith on an element which is engageable on the container and is obturated by a transverse wall having a lower fiat portion against which said tube bears and is locked by a peg when the container is not in use, said lower fiat portion being joined to an upper flat portion via a ramp having a thinned external edge which is cut by the knife to form a lip folded downwardly into the container to enable the liquid contained therein to flow out.

The description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are filed by way of nonlimitative examples, will give a clear understanding of how the invention can be carried into practice and will disclose yet further particularities thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in perspective the pouring spout and its cap separated from each other, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows in vertical section through IIII of FIG. 3, the pouring spout of FIG. 1 and its associated cap, in the configuration used for delivering the container;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken through llIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows in sectional view in a manner similar to that in FIG. 2 the obturating cap as it rotates to sever the pouring spout cover.

FIG. 5 is a section taken through VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through the pouring spout, showing how the cover is removed;

FIG. 7 illustrates in section a pouring spout and its cap according to an alternative embodiment in the configuration when the container is delivered.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section through the line VIII VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows in similar sectional form to FIG. 7 the pouring spout alone after it has been opened by cutting;

FIG. 10 shows in enlarged perspective form a portion of the pouring spout and the cap of FIG. 7, near the peg;

FIG. 11 is a similar view to that of FIG. 2, showing a pouring spout equipped with its associated cap according to a further alternative embodiment, mounted on a container;

FIG. 12 is a diametrical section similar to that of FIG. 2 taken through a pouring spout with detachable sealing element and the associated cap, the assembly being fitted to a container and being shown in the configuration ready for delivery;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the pouring spout and cap of FIG. 12, in an area wherein a sealing element is disposed;

FIG. 14 shows in diametrical section a further embodiment of spout and cap of the delivery configuration;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal section taken through the line XV-XV of FIG. 14;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are similar views to those of FIGS. 14- and 15, showing the open configuration ready for use subsequent to the cutting operation, FIG. 16 being a section taken through the line XVI--XVI of FIG. 17;

FIG. 18 illustrates in perspective the elements of the pouring spout of FIGS. 14 through 17 separated from one another in their configuration prior to delivery;

FIG. 19 shows in fragmental perspective view from underneath the lower element of the pouring spout of FIG. 14, in the position for pouring the liquid;

FIG. 20 shows in plan view on a reduced scale the element of FIG. 14 carrying the tube and the knife;

FIG. 21 is a fragmental section taken through the line XXIXXI of FIG. 15;

FIG. 22 is a diametrical section taken through a cap carrying a metal blade; and

FIG. 23 is a similar section to that of FIG. 6, the cap being integral with a plastic container.

In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the pouring spout is supported by a capsule 1 made of relatively flexible material such as polyethylene and is adapted to fit elastically over the edge of a bottle neck in a manner well known per se. Said spout is in the form of a cylindrical tube 2 which is obturated in an oblique plane by a wall portion 3 having along its periphery a score line 4 and on its top a small grasping tongue 5.

concentrically with cylinder 2, capsule 1 is obturated by a transverse annular wall integral with tube 2 and by the oblique wall portion 3 which projects upwardly and obliquely therefrom. Said transverse wall includes a circular rib 6 serving as a circular guideway, over which elastically fits a cap 7 having ribs 8 on the outer face thereof.

Internally, said cap 7 supports an eccentric blade or knife 9 the free extremity of which engages, in the inoperative position, in a small cavity 10 in capsule 1, at the base of the oblique wall portion 3. Cap 7 and blade 9 form a one-piece molding of a relatively rigid material such as shock-resisting polystyrene.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, cap and capsule are mounted on the container which is thereby hermetically sealed by the oblique wall portion 3. To open the container, all that is necessary is to only rotate cap 7 about its axis (see FIGS. 4 and whereupon the rigid blade 9, acting as a knife, cuts through the peripheral thinneddown portion 4 of oblique wall portion 3, save at its lowermost point which cannot be reached by the .lower extremity of blade 9. Thus, after the cutting operation has been performed, the oblique wall portion 3 will re main attached to cyliinder 2 by a holding tongue 3a extending only over a small portion of its base (see FIG. 6), from which it must be manually detached by means of grasping tongue 5 whereby the wall portion 3 is pre vented from accidentally dropping into the container. Thereafter pouring spout 2 will be devoid of a cover and the container will thenceforth be closed only by the cap 7 when not in use.

Like parts to those of the pouring spout of FIGS. 1 through 6 bear like reference numerals followed by the letter a for FIGS. 7 through 10, by the letter b for FIG. 11, by the letter c for FIGS. 12 and 13 and by the letter d for FIGS. 14 through 21.

In the specific embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 through 10, the pouring spout is on a capsule 1a made for example of polyethylene and adapted to fit elastically over the edge of a bottleneck in a manner well known per se. Said spout is in the form of a cylindrical tube 2a open over a longitudinal area 11 and terminating at the top in a funnel portion 12. At its base, said tube is joined to a truncated transverse annular wall 13 forming a bowl and obturating the capsule. Said tube is obturated by a substantially cylindrical end-piece 14 which joins the inner wall of said tube 2a along an oblique plane 15 via a peripheral score line 4a.

concentrically with cylindrical tube 2a, capsule 1a includes a circular ridge 6a over which the cap 7a having external ribs 811 fits elastically. Said cap is molded in one piece from a rigid plastic material such as a shock resisting polystyrene, and includes an eccentric blade 9a which in the inoperative position obturates the opening 11 of cylindrical tube 2a.

Said cap is further provided with a base 16 engaged in a groove formed on the capsule by an upper lip 17 thereon. Said upper lip is interrupted, as is clearly shown in FIG. 10, and in this interrupted area said capsule is integral with a peg 18. The base 16 is in turn interrupted in the same area, being terminated in two bevels 19 and 20.

In the configuration of FIG. 7, the container is hermetically sealed by the end-piece 14 and can be opened merely by rotating cap 7a about its axis. Rigid blade 9a acts as a knife and cuts through the scored line 4a of said end-piece at the same time as either of bevels 19 or 20, likewise acting as a knife, cuts off the peg 18 which ensured inviolability of the bottle seal. At the end of the cutting operation, the cap is removed and the sliced end-piece 14 pulled 011, following which the pouring spout assumes the configuration of FIG. 9.

When the liquid is poured, the same is channelled by the funnel portion 12, and should any drops tend to drip therefrom when the bottle is placed upright again, they are collected in the bowl 13 which communicates directly with the interior of the bottle and said'drops spill thereinto immediately. This is particularly advantageous in the case of a bottle containing a greasy liquid such as oil, in which case the pouring spout ensures that the bottle is kept clean.

Reference is now had to FIG. 11, wherein the pouring spout is similar to that-of FIGS. 7 through 10, differing therefrom only in that capsule 1b is provided with an external circular ridge 21. Said capsule can be fitted to a can 22 made of any convenient material such as metal, cardboard, or rigid plastic material, said can being initially provided with an opening having an inwardly and downwardly directed conical edge 23. Thus the ridge 21 passes through said opening by reason of the elasticity of its material and cannot be extracted therefrom because it abuts against the inner periphery of the downwardly directed edge 23. In this particular em bodiment, the cap 7b is of generally cylindrical shape.

Reference is next made to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, wherein the pouring spout and the cap are of the type shown in FIG. 11. The tube 2 however, consists of a cylinder against the inner wall of which is applied the external face of blade or knife 90, said tube terminating in a complete funnel 120. In addition, the edge 24 of capsule 1c bearing against can 22c comprises a radial portion 25 projecting therefrom and having a relatively large angular development whereby to permit a warranty inscription to be atfixed thereon. Said projection is joined by a heel 26 to said edge 24. The cap base 16c is indented as shown in FIG. 13 to allow it to mate with the internal portion of projection 25. Said indent 27 comprises a central portion which surrounds heel 26 and is provided with an oblique wall 28.

In this particular embodiment the circular ridge 6c of capsule 1c is provided externally with a screw thread 29 adapted to engage with a matching thread on the inside of cap 70. The cap is fitted onto the capsule by forcing it in the direction of arrow F, the capsule being made of flexible material which yields to the screw thread on the cap made of rigid material, whereby to dispose the indents 27 and the oblique wall 28 as shown in FIG. 13.

To gain access to the contents of the can, the cap is unscrewed, thus ensuring simultaneous cutting of the endpiece 140 by the rigid blade and breaking of the heel 26 of the warranty element along the line 30.

Reference is now made to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 through 21, in which the capsule 1d no longer supports the cylindrical tube, said tube 2d being integral with the cap-like rotating part 7d and incorporates the blade or knife 9d. Beyond tube 2d, said knife embodies a sealing heel 29. Part 7d is made of a relatively hard v the capsule 1d which is made of a relatively soft material.

Said capsule 1d is obturated by a transverse wall comprising an upper annular flat portion 31 adapted for application against the container neck 32 and bearing a sealing peg 18d which penetrates into a slot in part 7d which includes cutting edges 19d and 20d. Said capsule 1d further includes a lower fiat portion 33 which penetrates into the container and upon which bears the lower edge of tube 2d. Said flat portion 33 is joined to fiat portion 31 by a further portion 34 forming an upwardly directed ramp having a thinned-down edge 35. In the inoperative configuration the heel 29 of the tube is applied against the end closure of a lodging 36 provided on the capsule between its horizontal walls 31 and 33. Where ramp 34 joins horizontal wall 31, the capsule is reinforced at 37 over the area reached by the knife edge. Between said area and lodging 29, upper flat wall 31 is of circular arcuate shape and terminates in a cylindrical portion 38 centered upon the axis common to the capsule and part 7d, whereby to serve as a pivot when said part 7d is rotated.

In order to use this pouring spout, part 7d is rotated in the direction of arrow 0 (FIG. 20) by means of the ribs 39, 40, and 41 on its upper surface. The knife edge 90! guided by cylindrical wall 42 cuts through ramp 34 along its thinned-down edge and at the same time turns the lip cut out thus downwardly and inwardly, as shown in FIG. 16, whereby to enable the liquid to flow from the container in the direction of arrow 1 in FIG. 16. The cutting operation can be pursued until the edge abuts against reinforcement 37.

When part 7d rotates in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 20, the pouring spout releases the lip formed "by the peripherally slit ramp 34 and comes to bear against the lower fiat wall 33, against which it is restrained by a peg 43 projecting therefrom when the container is not in use. The knife is of cylindrical external shape to match that of the cylindrical portion 42 and bears against cylindrical portion 48 in such manner that no liquid can leak out in spite of the slit ramp 34.

Such a pouring spout is more particularly usable with vessels containing liquids liable to be adversely aflFected by contact with the air, an example being vinegar. In addition, depending upon the position occupied by tube 2d relative to the peripherally slit ramp 34, the liquid can be poured either drop by drop or in a continuous stream.

It will of course be understood that many modifications can be made to the specific embodiments hereinbefore described, without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, as is illustrated in FIG. 22, the blade or knife, instead of being rigidly connected to the plug 44, could consist of a metal blade 45 inserted, by its heeled retaining extremity 46, in the plastic material at the time the cap is molded. Similarly, capsule 47 could be integral with the very wall 48 of a container male of plastic material such as polyethylene or the like (see FIG. 23). Lastly, in the specific case where the unit is not to include an inviolability peg, the cap base and the capsule retaining ridge could be unbroken, whereby to ensure positive overall retention of said cap and said capsule.

What we claim is:

1. A closure assembly for an open container comprising a capsule secured to the container and closing the same, said capsule including a detachable portion which upon removal provides access to the interior of the container, a closed hollow cap detachably supported on said capsule and including means for partially severing the detachable portion of the capsule from the remainder of the capsule, said capsule being constituted of flexible and relatively soft material, said capsule including an upwardly projecting portion which is accommodated within the cap, said detachable portion being integral with said upwardly projecting portion and extending at an oblique angle with respect thereto, said cap being constituted of relatively hard material and being coaxially and rotatably supported on the capsule, said means for severing the detachable portion of the capsule being an eccentric blade projecting towards said detachable portion for partially severing the same from the capsule solely upon rotation of the cap on the capsule, and means for manually engaging the detachable portion to permit complete separation of the said portion from the capsule after the said portion has been partially severed.

2. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper projecting portion is a truncated cylinder, the detachable portion being an oblique cover having a pe ripheral portion of reduced thickness connected to said cylinder.

3. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said blade has a lower end which is adjacent the pe n'pheral portion of the oblique cover at the lowest end thereof such that, upon rotation of the cap and the blade therewith, the peripheral portion of the cover is severed.

4. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capsule includes an upwardly projecting lip which is an interrupted circular member that partially surrounds the cap, said lip defining a groove, said cap including a peripheral base accommodated in the groove defined by the lip.

5. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, comprising a peg on said capsule and means constituting a knife on said cap for severing the peg from the capsule as the cap is rotated on the capsule.

6. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 4 comprising a peg on saidcapsule accommodated in the inter rupted portion of the lip, said base including tapered end faces which constitute knives to sever the peg from the capsule, as the cap is rotated in either direction on the capsule.

7. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capsule has a skirt which fits elastically around the neck of the container.

8. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container has a circular aperture bounded by a conical rim directed inwardly and downwardly into said container, and the capsule includes on said skirt an external circular ridge the outer diameter of which is greater than that of the aperture whereby said capsule may elastically penetrate into said aperture for closing said container.

9. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upwardly projecting portion is a cylindrical tube terminating in a funnel and obturated by the detachable portion, said detachable portion being a cylindrical endpiece projecting upwardly in said funnel and obliquely connected by a peripheral thinned-down portion to the inner wall of said tube, said funnel and end-piece being integral with said tube, the external face of the blade carried by the cap bearing against the inner wall of said tube whereby after the rotation of the cap, said tube is usable as a pouring spout after the manual removal of the severed cylindrical end-piece, thereby preventing its dropping into the container.

10. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upwardly projecting portion is a cylindrical tube which has a longitudinal opening terminating in a funnel element and obturated by the detachable portion, said detachable portion being a cylindrical end-piece projecting upwardly beyond said funnel element and obliquely connected by a peripheral thinned-down portion to the inner wall of said tube with the lower part of said end piece simultaneously obturating said longitudinal opening at its bottom, said capsule including a wall around said cylindrical section in the shape of a bowl which empties directly into the container through said longitudinal opening after said cylindrical end-piece has been detached at said peripheral thinned-down portion.

11. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade is integral with the cap; 7

12. A closure assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capsule is made of polyethylene while the cap and associated blade is made of shock-resisting polystyrene.

13. A closure assembly for a container, comprising a capsule secured to the container and closing the same and including a detachable obturating portion, and a closed, hollow cap fitting over said capsule and including means for partially severing said detachable'obturating portion from the remainder of said capsule, said capsule being constituted of flexible and relatively soft material and including an upwardly projecting lip portion consti-, tuted by an annular member having an interrupted por tion, said lip portion partially surrounding the cap, fan upwardly projecting circular ridge on said capsule within the lip portion, an annular bowl-shaped portionleiitending inwardly of and surrounded by said circular ridge, "20 an upwardly directed central tube on said bowl portion constituted by a cylindrical section which has a lohg" tudinal opening, terminating in a funnel element H detachable obturating portion being a cylindrical end piece upwardly projecting beyond'said funnel element and obliquely connected by a peripheral thinned-down portion to the inner wall of said tube with the=said end piece obturating said longitudinal opening of said tube, said cylindrical section and said cylindrical end-piece obturating said annular bowl-shaped portion, a peg dis posed in the interrupted portion of said upper lip por-. tion, said capsule including a downwardly directed with an external circular ridge, which is adapted to elasf tically penetrate into an aperture in the'container to engage and close the container in fluid-tight manner;

said cap being constituted of relatively hard material and being coaxially and rotatably mounted on said capsule in engagement in said upper circular ridge, said means for partially severing the obturating portion comprising an eccentric blade on said cap directed towards said wall of said tube and having at least one straight edge parallel with the axis of said cap and including a lower end which is disposed in registered relationship with the lower part of said cylindrical end-piece to partially sever the said end-piece from the wall of the tube along said thinned down-portion solely upon rotation of the cap on the capsule through one complete turn such that the end piece can be thereafter manually separated from the tube, said cap including a base portion penetrating into the circular ridge formed by said lip portion and which is interrupted to accommodate said peg, said base portion including interrupted end faces which are tapered and constitute knives for severing said peg from the capsule as the cap is rotated on the capsule.

7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OUIS- 1. DE'MB rimar Examiner.

RAPl-iAEL M-. 1.01 0, Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FROR AN OPEN CONTAINER COMPRISING A CAPSULE SECURED TO THE CONTAINER AND CLOSING THE SAME, SAID CAPSULE INCLUDING A DETACHABLE PORTION WHICH UPON REMOVAL PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER, A CLOSED HOLLOW CAP DETACHABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID CAPSULE AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR PARTIALLY SEVERING THE DETACHABLE PORTION OF THE CAPSULE FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE CAPSULE, SAID CAPSULE BEING CONSTITUTED OF FLEXIBLE AND RELATIVELY SOFT MATERIAL, SAID CAPSULE INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING PORTION WHICH IS ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE CAP, SAID DETACHABLE PORTION BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID UPWARDLY PROJECTING PORTION AND EXTENDING AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID CAP BEING CONSTITUTED OF 